Lubricating means



July 8, 1930. E. w. DAVIS LUBRICATING MEANS Filed Aug. 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 8, 1930. E. w. DAvls LUBRICATING MEANS Filed Aug. 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NWN mwN Pateated July s, 1930` l Nwarren STATESv PATENT ori-lcs ERNEST DAVIS, OF'OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CORPORATION,

` OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE Y LUBRICATING MEANS Application filed August 9, 1926. Serial-No. 128,186.

My invention relates to lubrication, and more specilically to improved means for injecting lubricant into bearings requiringa relatively large amount of lubricant and l 5 capable of receiving the same at relatively .10i provide a perfect coupling seal when both coupled and uncoupled, along with a minimum of resistance to flow when coupled.

Second, to` provide a gun of relatively large capacity, and convenient and quick means for illing the same through the discharge outlet by some other power driven lling means.

.An item of novelty and convenience in connection with this object is the use of a unitary coupling and check valve assembly readily .detachablefrom the discharge tube of thegun. Another convenient feature in connection with the filling `operation isthe provision of an air vent that functions both as an indicator and as a safety relief outlet. y Third, to provide a very vcompact structural embodiment of lubricant compressor, having movable parts of minimum inertia. An item of novelty in connection' with this object is the use of a return spring housed within the geometric contour of the gun barrel itself.

Fourth, to eliminate the necessity for any very precisealignment between the axis of the gun and the axis of its discharge tube.

Fifth, to provide a check valve held against opening by a smaller hydraulic force than that corresponding to the pressure of the p supply, multiplied by the area of the vlve seat. v

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an axial section, partly in elevation, of a discharge nozzle and nipple,

illustrating the first and lfifth objects mentioned;

Figure 2A is a central axial section, partly in elevation, of a complete lubricant compressor, illustrating the first four objects above mentioned; and i Figure 3 is an enlarged section .through the coupling means of Figure 2 and the mpple inconnection with which said coupling means is employed. f s In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration in Figure 1, the pistol-like handle 10 receives lubricant under pressure from any-suitable source through a conduit 12 and discharges the same into a tube 14.

The 'outer end of the tube 14 carries a packingbox 16 which, in turn, carries a gland 18 for compressingl a l suitable packing 20.l The gland 18 is elongated to provide a seat for the slidable discharge nozzle 22 having a central axial opening at 24 and a convex Y spherical surface at 26 for forming a seal in a manner to be described hereinafter.

, Clamped between the inner end of the tube 14 and a shoulder 28 on the'handle 10 is a spider 30 forming a rigid support for a spacer rod 32. The valve 34 is threaded in` the end of the spacer rod 32 and comprises a stem having aconvexly curved main valve portion 36 facing toward the high pressure side of the valve. The inner end of the discharge nozzle 22 is enlarged to define a valve chamber 38 and carries an annular valve seat 40, preferably threaded into the open end of the valve chamber. .The inward movement of the valve seat into the chamber is limited by abutment of the fiange 42 with the end of thechamber wall. The outer periphery of the flange 42 may be notched, or cut away',

as at 44, to increase the area of communication between the outer annular spaces 46 and 48. The extreme inner end of the valve seat is preferably rovided with a lip 50 forming, with the ange 42, a suitable seat for. the compression spring 52, which spring abuts the spider 30 at its other end.

It will be seen that the valve itself is relatively stationary and that the annular valve seat moves inwardly away from the valve to open an exit passageway. The total pressure tending to eject the movable part of the' valve vwill be the hydraulic pressure of the supply acting over an area equal to theinner cross-section of the gland 18 minus the crosssection of the valve on the line where it makes contact with the seat. This is because the hydraulic pressure on the area inside the valve seat is carried by the spacer rod 32. In

the embodiment illustrated the area of the valve seat is on/lya trifle less than the area of the gland. 'By making the valve seat and land of the same cross-section, the sealing orce of the hydraulic lplslslure of the supply might be. entirely e ated Vif desired. However, I prefer tov employ the initial constant bias due to the spring 52 plus a relatively slight increment proportional to the supply o pressure. This results in a valve that will openwith relative ease against high preures, and lalso retain such pressures without imposing such a load on the contact surfaces of the valve and its seat to 4result in rapid wear and deterioration.

In discharging relatively large amounts of lubricant against relatively moderate pressures, the resistance of the check valve, or valves, in the system becomes important. I provide a pin 54 mounted in thebody oi the valve and extending out along the axis of the- .discharge nozzle. When the valve is closed, the end of this pin is substantially Hush with the discharge orifice 24, but when the surface 26 is placed against such a receiving nipple as that shown` in Figure 3, the inward telescoping movement of the discharge nozzle necessary to open the valve 36 can only be produced by pushing the in 54 forward to hold the check valve in t e n'pple open precisely as shown Figure 3. hus, when lubricant is being in]ected, the hydraulic pressure of the lubricant does not have vto push any check valve open but need merely overcome the bearing resistance and the resistance of the y passageways to ra id low on account of the viscosity of the lu rica-lit.

, Referring, now, to Figures 2 and 3, I have illustrated supply means for the same type of service, in which the power for compressing the lubricant is developed close tothe point 'of injection, as by the manually operated handle 56. The supply of lubricant is contained in a barrel 58 aving a discharge tube 60`at one end terminating in coupling means indicated generally by the reference character 62. The tube 60 is mechanically supported by the end wall 64 of the barrel, as by a base annulus 66, and the clamping nut 68 preferably lgrlip'ping a washer 70 to provide a tight seal. e manual element for expelling lubricant from the tube, or cylinder, 60 is a rod extending through :from the handle 56 and having a lar e portion 72 slidably guided in the rear en of the barrel, and a smaller portion 74 terminating in a relativel short piston por tion 7 6 which slides in an y never quite moves out of the tube 60. I provide two lateral openings 78 for inlet ports, spaced from the endof the tube 60, so t at in the retracted position shown the piston 76 is enclosed in a continuous annulus 'of metal. It is the engage- There is also guidingl engagement between the front end of the tube 80 and the piston rod 74. I have illustrated an end plug 84 and l a hat-shaped sealing leather 86, which leather is held in place by a washer 88 receiving the thrust 1of the return .spring 90. The return spring 90, at its other end, abuts a washer 92 lying against a transverse pin 94 projecting from the rear portion 72 of the piston rod.

In use, the barrel is intended to remain closed permanently, and the cap96 is, therefore, fastenedv in place by machine screwsv 98 which, while they can be removed for repair purposes, will not ordinarily be touched during thel iilling and emptying of thedevice.

I provide an annular sealing cup leather 100, reinforcedby clamping plates 102,` carried by a central sleeve 104 slidable on, the housing tube 80. During the emptying of the barrel the withdrawal of the lubricant at' 7 8v will lower the pressure infront of this follower piston and move it forward. In this way the more or lessviscous lubricant in the barrel is constrainedto move in a body up to and through the opening 78.

The gunis adapted to be filled by complete removal of the coupling 62 and the injection of lubricant under hydraulic pressure through the open end of the discharge tubev 60. I have provided an air vent 106 in the side wall of the barrel 58 at a point where it will be fairly uncovered just at the end of the the vent 106 so that oil will squirt out. This serves a double purpose. lt immediately apprises the operator that the gun is full and should be disconnected from the pressure source; and, by adording a relief outlet not too entirely inadequate compared with the area of theopenings 78, it protects the barrel 58v from being exposed by a carelessl operator 4 to a higher pressure than it can stand.

Referring, now, to Figure 3, the couplin means 62 coprises the rear sleeve 110 en the front sleeve 112 threaded together to su port and house all the other parte. ln thek chamber ll4, between the dange'lli forming the valve seat and the shoulder 118 on the iront tuhe 112, l' provide, tiret, 'a spider 120 overlying the shoulder 11.18 and held without substantial play by the iront end 122 of the sleeve 110; second, the conically 'coiled spring ies 124; and third, the ball check valve 126. The

pin 128, corresponding to the pin 54 of Figure 1, is now a stationary element projec at all times past the orice 24. It is suppo the sleeve 110 with relatively in the hub of the spider 120 and fastened in place by a short tube 130. The rear end of the fastenin tube is riveted out at 132, and forms an autment' limiting the opening movement of the ball valve 126 so that it canl move to a position where the effective clearances forilow around and past it are a maximum, but no farther. I prefer to adjust the .Check valve 126 t9 withstand a relatively insignicant pressure only, sufficient to prevent gravity or an external jolt from ejecting the contents of the gun past it when the gun is not in use. In one successful embodiment of the invention this pressure is as low as five pounds per square inch.

The sleeve 112 is preferably. screwed onto powerful tools so that these parts cannot hand. Thismakes both sleevesa unitary assembly that can be threaded onto the dis-v charge tube 60 or removed therefrom quickly and easily by hand. However, if the coupling member itself should need adjustment or repair, the separation of the sleeves lets all the elements ofthe combination fall apart.

The nipple I have illustrated for co-operation with the coupling means of Figures 1 and 2 comprises the usual tubular body 134 threaded at 136 for screwing it into an orifice in the part to be lubricated, and having a valve seat at 1.38 and a conical flaring portion 140 for receiving the spherical coupling end and forming a metal to metal lubricant-tight seal that will also ,permit a limited amount of universal 'swiveling movement between the parts while maintalning the seal. The check valve 142 in the nipple must beheld on its seat by the spring 144 with suilicient pressure to prevent leakage of lubricant during use of the machine to which the nipple is to be attached. For practical purposes the necessary pressure here represents a much higher hy raulic pressure than that necessary to open the check valve 126. However, when the nipple is employed in connection with coupling means according to Figure 1 or Figure .2, the

pin will mechanically push this valve open so that the relatively` -high hydraulic pressure necessary to do this need not be developed and the power necessarily wasted doing so is saved. v

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the gist of my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service without eliminating certain features which may properly -be sald to constitute the essential items of novelt involved, which items are intended to be de ed and secured to me by the following claims.'

1. Lubricating means comprising a thrust operated grease gun, a receivmg element, 4cooperating terminal portions carried by said e separated by gun and element for forming a lubricant tight universal joint seal when said gun is pressed against said element, a check valve in said element, and a projection, carried by said gun and independent of `the terminal portion thereof, said projection vextending through said seal, for opening said valve mechanically for the injection of lubricant.

32. Lubricating means comprising a thrust operated grease gun, a receiving element, cooperating metallic terminal port-ions carried by said gun and element for forming a lubricant tight universal joint seal `when-said gun is pressed against said element, a check valve in said element, an axial projection carried by said gun and projecting vcentrally through said seal 'for opening said valve mechanically for the injection of lubricant, said seal and projection having a discharge opening in the form of a complete annulus, and means for advancing the projection relative to the terminal portion of the gun. I

3. Lubricating means comprising a receiving element, a discharge nozzle comprising relatively telescopingparts movable by thrusting said nozzle downwardly against said element, and a hydraulically counterbalanced check valve in said nozzle actuated in a path in substantial axial alignment with the element'by the telescoping movement of the nozzle parts.

4. Lubricating means comprisinga receiving element, a discharge nozzle comprising relatively telescoping parts movable by thrusting said nozzle downwardlyi against said element, a hydraulically counterbal'anced check valve in saidnoz'zle actuated in a path in substantial axial alignment with the element by the telescoping movement of the nozzle parts, and a biasing spring tending to hold said check valve closed, the counterbalance being not quite complete to leave a small residual pressure eHect also tending to close the valve.

5. Lubricatingmeans comprisingaJ thrust operated grease gun, a receiving element, cooperating terminal portions carried by said` gun and element for forming a lubricant tight seal when said gun ispressed against said element in the direction of said thrust,

a check valve in said element, a 7projection for the injection of lubricant, and means for l advancing the projection relatively to said terminal portion.

6. Lubricating'means comprising agrease gun, a receiving element, cooperating metallic terminal portions carried by said gun and element for formin a lubricant tight universal joint lseal w en said gun'is pressed against said element, a check valve in. said element, a projection carried b said gun for opening said valve mechanica ly for the injection of lubricant, and means to advance lso y valve being normally ing fitting, comprising normall said Aprojection relative to the terminal portion of the gun.

7 A tool for use in high pressure-lubricating systems, said tool having a lubricant sup, ply passage and comprising an outer member for attachment to the lubricant supply line and an inner member for` engagement with the part to be lubricated, saidinnermember telescoping within'the outer member, spring means yieldingly holding the members extended, a valve carried by the 'outer member means yieldingly holding-the members extended, a 'valve carried by the outer member for opening and closing the said passage, the

said valve being assisted in closing by `lubricant pressure, said inner member having means which, when the members are manually contracted opensfthe passa e.'

9. Atool :torconnectinga i lubricant supply line with aflubricant receiv- @extended outer andinner telescoping mem rshaving v a lubricant supply passage, anormallyclosed valve `-for 'said' passage,v said* inner memberv` having means which when the members are manually .contracted,` opens the; assage,

means' carried by the inner v'member or mali@ .ing a substantially lubricant.v tight` connection with 'the' lubricant receivingy fitting by pres.-

\ vsure only, and `means "carried by the outer member'whereby ressure maybe applied'om 4 1tion between the valve nozzle an 'outer and inner telescoping mem `havingI neans w valve nozzle carriedibyl y. lubricant supply the lubricant 'receiving fitting,

10. A tool, for, connecting Ial' high 1 i lubricant supply line-witha lubricant rece1v ing tting,\comprising normall'yefextended a ylubricant supply passage, aj normally y close valve"- for. said assage, vsaid viichfvvhen the members lare manually contraetsii,-. oplens the 1 passage a.

making. a-v substan iallyi lubricant tight?v con-` nection-with theflubicant receivin fitting by pressureonland means carri 'by the outer member whereby pressure may beI h pressure Y inner for Y outer member for controlling the -iiow of lubricant to said passa 'e in te inner member, said inner member aving means which, when the members are manuall contracted,

opens the passage, means carri by the inner member for makin a substantially lubricant tight connection with the lubricant receiving fitting by pressure only, and means carried by the outer member whereby pressure may be applied to said lubricant receiving fitting.

' 12. A tool for connecting a'high pressurev lubricant supply line with a lubricant receiv-` .ing fitting, consisting of an outer hollow member` and an inner telescoping member having a passage therethrough, a valve carried by the outer member for` controlling the iiow of lubricant to said passa e in the inner vmember, lsaid inner ,member which, when the members are manually contracted, opens thepassage, a valve nozzle carried by the inner member for making a substantially lubricant tight connection with the lubricant receiving tting by pressure only, and a handle carried by said outer member rwhereby pressure may be applied Onaid vlubricant receiving fitting.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this'lst day of July, 1926. ERNEST W. DAVIS.

innerA mel/aber` V" a -if pliedto contractfthemembers forno ning'tllie 4 t connec-I valve and'to make a lubricantti the 1 b cant receiving fitting.

11,"A1toolxf`r connecting a high pressureA l line with a lubricant receiving tting,.cons1stin of. an outer hollow member and te eseopin member having ap w g therethrough,av

ve carried by the? aving means y 

